Railway-traffic-controlling apparatus.



0.0. HARRINGTON. RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 1ULY2I 19H. 1 177773. Patented Apr. 4,1916.

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C. 0. HARRINGTON.

RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS.

w APPLICATION FILED JULYYZ, 19M.

1,177,773. Patented Apr. 4,1916.

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N 0 0 KQ n Q 1 L WITNESSES INVENTOR' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLINTON 0. HARRINGTON, F EDGEWOOD BOROUGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THEUNION SWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A

CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

Application filed July 2, 1914. Serial No. 848,558.

To all lo/1 0m it may concern.

Be it known that I, CLINTON O. I-IARBING- TON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Edgewood Borough, in the county of Allegheny andState of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Railway-Traitic-Controlling Apparatus, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to railway trafiic controlling apparatus, andparticularly to apparatus for indicating the position of railway trafficcontrolling devices.

I will describe one form of indication apparatus embodying my inventionand will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showingone form of indication apparatus embodying my invention applied to twoswitches of a railway crossover. Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, are viewsshowing the positions assumed by parts of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1under various conditions.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each ofthe'several views.

Referring first to Fig. l, T and T are two railway tracks, which areconnected by a crossover comprising rails T and two switches A and B.Each of these switches is provided with a motor M or M, each of whichmotors operates a switch-actuating mechanism F or F. As here shown, eachmotor M and M comprises two solenoids l0 and 11 which control areciprocating plunger 12, which latter is Operatively connected with acam plate 37. Each plate 37 is provided with a cam slot 88, whichactuates a roller 39 Operatively connected with the switch rails bymeans of a rod 40. It will be seen, therefore, that reciprocation of theplungers will cause reverse movements of switches A and B. Operativelyconnected withthe plates 37 are pole changers P and P respectively for apurpose which I will hereinafter explain. Although I have herein shownone particular type of motor device and switch actuating mechanism, itis understood that I do not limit myself to this particular type, butthat any suitable motor and switch actuating mechanism may be employed,

.circuits for the solenoids of motors M and M. The control circuits forthese solenoids are herein shown in dash lines for the purposes ofdistinction, the circuits pertaining to the indication apparatus beingshown in solid lines.

As herein shown a direct cur-.

rent generator 19 supplies current to the V motors M and M, and also tothe indication apparatus. In the arrangement of motor control circuitsherein shown, one pair or the other of solenoids 11 or 10 is connectedwith the source 19 according as contact finger 18 engages with contact44: or 45. It is understood, however, that this arrangement of controlof the motor device M and M by the lever C is merely illustrative andthat I do not wish to limit myself to this particular arrangement. Thecircuits for these motor devices will be readily understood from thedrawing, and one of these circuits will be traced hereinafter in eX-plaining the operation of the apparatus.

The movements of the shaft 13 are as usual controlled by indicationapparatus, which as here shown comprises two indication devices K andK3, one for each direction of movement. Each of these devices comprisesa segment 27 fixed to the shaft 13 and provided with a dog 28 adapted toengage with a latch 29, which latches are controlled bv electromagnets-Nand R respectively. Each of these electromagnets N and R is providedwith a circuit, which circuits 7 are controlled by a contact device E,as heretacts .25 and .26 operated by the shaft 13.-

These latter contacts are not moved during the first portion of themovement of the shaft 13 upto the point at which it is stopped by thedog 28 of one or the other of the'indication devices, but during'theremainder of the movement of the shaft, the contacts 25 and 26 arereversed in position.

- This operation of contacts 25 and 26 is, as

here shown, accomplished by mounting the contact fingers loosely on theshaft 13 and moving them by pins 31, 32, 33 and 34 carried by collars 35and 36 fixed on the shaft 13. It is understood, however, that the meansherein shown for operating the contacts 25 and 26 is merelyillustrative, and that I do not limit myself'to this particular means.

The contact device E comprises a yoke 63 pivotally mounted at and biasedto a middle position by a spring 64. The yoke is provided with anextension or tongue 63 which carries insulation studs 77 on which aremounted contact fingers 66 and 67. These fingers coact with fixedcontacts 68 and 69 in such manner that when yoke 63 occupies its middleposition, both contact fingers are out of engagement with the fixedcontacts, when the yoke is swung in clockwise direction contact 6668 isclosed, and when the yoke is swung in the other direction contact 67-69is closed.

Contact device E is controlled by two electromagnetic devices D and Dwhich are in turn controlled by the pole-changers P and P respectivelyof the switches A and B. Each of these devices comprises a magnetizablecore 78 having two pairs of inwardly-projecting pole pieces 41-42, and20 21. Each core is provided with an en ergizing winding 14, whichwindings are supplied with current as hereinafter ex plained. Eachdevice comprises a soft iron armature 43 pivotally mounted at point 55and adapted to oscillate between the polepieces of the correspondingcore 78. Each armature is polarized by a permanent magnet 15 fixed withrelation to the core 78, the poles of the permanent magnet lying inclose proximity to the ends of the armature 43. Fixed to each armatureis an arm-22, which arms terminate in eyes 56 and 56 respec tively.Passing through these eyes is a rod 62 which also passes through theyoke 63, and which rod serves to swing the yoke in one direction or theother accordingto the relative positions of armatures 43 as will behereinafter explained.

The winding 14' of electromagnetic device D is reversibly connected withwires 7479, and thereby withgenerator 19, by the pole-changer P ofswitch A, and, similarly, the winding 14. of electromagnetic device D isreversibly connected with wires 7479 by pole-changer P of switch B.These windings and their circuits are so arranged that when bothswitches A and B are in normal position.v that is, are set for trafficalong the straight tracks T and T, th armatures 43 will be swung inopposite directions, that is, the armature of device D is in its extremecounter-clockwiseposition and the armature for device D is in itsextreme clockwise position. As here shown,

this reverse position of the armatures is accomplished by reverselywinding the coils disconnected from the generator 19 and 'engagecontacts 46 and 47 respectively, which contacts are electricallyconnected by a wire 51, so that each winding 14 is then placed on thefollowing short circuit: from winding 14 through wire 23, contact finger17 contact point 47, wire 51, contact point 46, contact finger 16, wire24 to winding 14. Each armature 43 is then drawn to its middle positionby its magnet 15, and rod 62 then allows the spring 64 to return yoke 63to its middle position, so that contacts 66-6S and 6769 are then bothopen. The purpose of contacts 46 and 47 and wires '51 is to shunt fromthe windings 14 all currents which might leak into them from outsidesources.

In Fig. l, the parts of the apparatus are shown in the positions whichthey occupy when th switches A and B occupy their normal positions. Vhenit is desired to move the switches A and B from their normal positionsto their opposite or reverse positions the shaft 13 of control lever Cis rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow until the dog 28 ofindication device K engages the latch 29. In this position contactfinger 18 has been disengaged from contact 44 and has engaged cont-act45 so that both solenoids 10 are energized through the followingcircuitfrom generator 19, through wires 70, 71. and 52, contact finger18, contact 45, wire 53, solenoid 10 of motor M,

wire 54, solenoid 10 of motor M, wires 72, 73, 74 and 75 to generator19. This causes solenoids 10 to draw the plungers 12, thereby shiftingthe plates 37 so thatthe rollers 39' are moved by the cam slots 38 andthe switches A and B are reversed. As soon as the movement begins andwhile the right hand longitudinal portions of the slots 38 are movingpast the rollers 39, the polechangers are operated so that their contactfingers 16 and 17 disengage from contact points 48 and 50 and engagewith contact points 46 and 47, thereby placing windings 14 of relays Dand D on short circuit; 1.15

armatures 43 then assume their middle positions, thereby openingcontacts 66-68 and 6769. The fingers 16 and 17 of the polechangerscontinue to engage the contact points 46 and 47 while the switches A andB are being moved by the inclined portion of the slots 38, and when themovement of the switches A and B is complete and the lefthandlongitudinal portions of the slots 38 are moving past the rollers 39 thecontact fingers 16 and 17 are moved to engage with contact points 50 anda9, thereby connecting windings 14 with generator 19 in the directionsopposite to the directions shown in the drawing. Electromagnetic devicesD and D are now energized in such directions that armature 43 of theelectromagnetic device D will now assume its extreme clockwise position,while armature 43 of the electromagnetic device D will assume itsextreme counter-clockwise position, so that arm 22 of theelectromagnetic device D will be inclined upward and arm 22 of theelectromagnetic device D will be inclined downward, thus forcing rod 62against the lower side of yoke 63, which will in turn be forced down,thereby opening contact 6668 and closing contact 67-69. The reverseindication magnet R is then energized by the following circuit-fromgenerator 19 through wires 70, 71 and 76, contact 69, contact finger 67,wire 57, contact finger 25, wire 58, magnet R, wires 59, 74; and 75 togenerator 19. Magnet R then raises its armature, thereby raising thlatch 29 out of the path of dog 28 of indication device K so that themovement of shaft 13 can be continued to the end of the stroke. Duringthis last portion of the movement, contact 25 is opened, thereby openingat that point the circuit for magnet R, and contact 26 is closed,thereby closing at that point the circuit for magnet N.

The operation of the apparatus for the movement of the switches A and Bfrom the reverse to the normal positions would be similar to that justexplained.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on a vertical plane through eyes 56 and 56and yoke 63, showing the red 62 in elevation. This view shows thepositions of these parts when both armatures 43 are in their middlepositions so that eyes 56 and 56 are also in their intermediatepositions. Yoke 63 is now held in its middle position by the biasingspring 64, hence contacts 6668 and 6'T69 are both open.

Assume now that the lever C has been moved toward its reverse positionuntil stopped by indication device K and that only one switch, forexample, switch A, has moved from its normal position to its reverseposition, and that switch B has remained in its normal position. Botharmatures *3 would then occupy their extreme clockwise position, and thepositions of the rod '62, the eyes 56 and 56, and yoke 63 would then beas shown by Fig. 3. The rod 62 is moved in an upward direction by theeyes 56 and 56 and as the rod 62 engages the upper side of yoke 63 therod swings around the yoke as a center and its other end rises from thelower edge of eye 56. The eyes are of considerably greater diameter thanthe rod, however. and the rod is also smaller than the yoke, so that theend of the rod not engaging with yoke 63 will not strike the upper sideof the eye 56 before the armatures come to rest against theirpole-pieces, hence the yoke 63 will not be moved out of its middleposition and neither of the contacts controlled thereby will be closed.Under these conditions it will be seen that neither of the indicationmagnets N or R could be energized, hence the stroke of lever C could notbe completed.

Assume now that lever. C has been moved toward the reverse positionuntil stopped by indication device K and that switch 13 has moved to itsreverse position but that switch A has failed to move. The positions ofrod 62, yoke 63, and eyes 56 and 56 would then be as shown in Fig. 4,from which it will be seen that owing to the clearance between the rodand the eyes, and betweenthe rod and the yoke, the rod does not engagethe lower edge of eye 56 before the armatures come to rest against theirpole-pieces, hence the yoke 63 is not moved out of its middle position.As explained in connection with Fig. 3, neither indication device wouldbe energized and the stroke of the lever could not be completed. In Fig.5, the rod 62, eyes 56 and 56 and yoke 63 are shown in the positionstheyassume when both switches A and B occupy their normal positions;This view therefore corresponds to Fig. 1. Yoke 63 is raised so thatcontact 66-68 is closed as ex-- plained hereinbefore.

Assume now that .in response to a move.-

ment of lever C toward its reverse position,

switch A has made a complete movement to reverse position and switch Bhas stopped intermediate the normal and reverse positions. The rod 62,eyes 56 and 56 and-yoke 63 will then occupy the positions shown in Fig.6. Armature 43 of device D has swung to its extreme clockwise position,but since pole-changer P is between its two extreme positions device Dis de'elnergized so that the armature as of the latter device occupiesits intermediate position. Owing, however. to the clearance between therod and the eyes, and between the rod and the yoke, the movement of eye56 is not suflicient to cause the rod to move the yoke out of its middleposition, hence neither indication magnet could be energized and themovement of the lever C could not be completed.

Although I have herein described only one form of indication apparatusembodying my invention, it is understood that various changes andmodifications may be made therein within the scope of the appendedclaims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, a railway crossover comprising two switches, a leverfor the control oi": said switches, indication means for controllingsaid lever, circuits for said inclication means, a contact device forcontrol ling said circuits, an electromagnetic device for each switch,each device comprising a movable member responsive to reversals ofcurrent, means controlled by each switch for supplying to thecorresponding electromagnetic device current of one polarity or theother according as the switch occupies one extreme position or theother, said movable members being swung in opposite directions when theswitches occupy corresponding positions, and mechanical means controlledby said movable members for causing operation of said contact devicewhen said members are swung in opposite directions but not when they areswung in the same direction.

In combination, a railway crossover comprising two switches, anelectromagnetic device for each switch, each device comprising a movablemember responsive to re versals of current, means controlled by eachswitch for supplying to the corresponding electromagnetic device currentof one polarity or the other according as the switch occupies oneextreme position or the other, said movable members being swung in0pposite directions when the switches occupy corresponding positions,indication means for said switches, circuits for said indication means,a contact device for controlling said circuits, and mechanical meanscontrolled by said movable members for causing operation of saidScontact device when said members are swung in opposite directions butnot when they are swung in the same direction.

3. In combination, a railway crossover comprising two switches, anelectromagnetic device for each switch, each device comprising a movablemember responsive to reversals of current, means controlled by eachswitch for supplying to the corresponding electromagnetic device currentof one polarity or the other according as the switch occupies oneextreme position or the other and for de'energizing the correspondingelectromagnetic device when the switch occupies an intermediateposition, said movable members being swung in opposite directions whenthe switches occupy corresponding positions, indication means for saidswitches, circuits for said indication means, a contact device forcontrolling said circuits, and mechanical means controlled by saidmovable members for causing operation of said contact device when saidmembers are swung in opposite directions but not when they are swung inthe same direction or when one member occupies an intermediate position.1

4:. In combination, a railway crossover comprising two switches, anelectromagnetic device for each switch, each device comprising a movablemember responsive to reversals of current, means controlled by eachswitch for supplying to the corresponding electromagnetic device currentof one p'o larity or the other according as the switch occupies oneextreme position or the other, and for deenergizing the electromagneticdevice and placing the latter on short circuit when the switch occupiesan intermediate position, said movable members being swung in oppositedirections when the switches occupy corresponding positions, indicationmeans for said switches, circuits for controlling said indication means,a contact device for controlling said circuits, and mechanical meanscontrolled by said movable members for causing the operation of saidcontact device when said members are swung in opposite directions butnot when they are" swung in the same direction or when-one memberoccupies an intermediate position.

5. In combination, a railway crossover comprising two switches, anelectromagnetic device for each switch,'each device compris ing amovable momber responsive to rever sals of curent, an eye for eachmovable mem ber operatively connected with the member, a yoke, a rodpassing through said eyes and said yoke, means controlled by each switchfor supplying to the corresponding electro- V magnetic device current ofone polarity or the other according as the switch occupies one extremeposition or the other, said eyes being swung in opposite directions whenthe switches occupy corresponding positions, said yoke being swungv inone direction or the other by said rod when the said eyes are swung inopposite directions, the rod being smaller than the eyes and the yoke sothat said yoke is not moved from its middle position when the eyes areswung in the same direction, and indication means for said switchescontrolled by said yoke.

6. In combination, a railway crossover comprising two switches, anelectromagnetic device for each switch each device compris; ing anarmature responsive to reversals of current, means controlled by eachswitch for supplying to the corresponding electromagnetic device currentoii one polarity or the other according as the switch occupies oneextreme position or the other, said armatures being swung in oppositedirections when the switches occupy corresponding positions, a memberbiased to a middle posi tion, means controlled by said armatures formoving said member in one direction orthe other from its m ddle positionwhen the armatures are swung in opposite directions and for allowingsaid member to occupy its middle position when said armatures are swungin the same relative directions,,and

indication means for said switches controlled by said member.

7. In combination, a railway crossover comprising two switches, anelectromagnetic device for each switch, each device comprising a movablemember responsive to reversals of current, means controlled by eachswitch for supplying to the corresponding electromagnetic device currentof one polarity or the other according as the switch occupies oneextreme position or the other, indication means for said switches,circuits for controlling said indication means, a contact device forcontrolling said circuits, and mechanical means controlled by saidmovable members for causing operation of said contact device when saidmembers are swung in predetermined relative directions, but not whenthey are swung in other relative directions.

8. In combination, a. railroad crossover comprising two switches, anelectromagnetic device for each switch, each device compris- Copies ofthis patent may be obtained for five cents each,

ing an armature responsive to reversals of current, means controlled byeach switch for supplying to the corresponding electromagnetic devicecurrent of one polarity or the other according as the switch occupiesone extreme position or the other, a member biased to a middle position,means controlled by said armatures for moving said member in onedirection or the other from its middle position when the armatures areswung in predetermined relative directions and for allowing said memberto occupy its middle position when said armatures are swung in otherrelative directions, and indication means for said switches controlledby said member.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CLINTON O. HARRINGTQN.

lVitnesses A. HERMAN WEGNER R. L. KISTLER.

by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.

